Rams inactives list for Week 3 game vs. 49ers: Bad news for Cooper Kupp

It's tough to get a good reading of the LA Rams proficiency right now. After all, the team's barrage of injuries not only has taken incredible talent off the football field, but the turnstyle effect of swapping out injured starters for healthy backups has given this team absolutely no continuity whatsoever. As you may recall from 2022, continuity is vital to improving a team that is making mistakes.

And after a Week 2 shellacking at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals, there is a month's worth of mistakes to address this week.

Correcting mistakes needs coaching and patience. But it also needs the same player who must learn from those mistakes to play again, and make better choices when confronted by the same set of circumstances. So far, injuries have prevented the team from mastering past errors. Hopefully, with the team welcoming the San Francisco 49ers to SoFi Stadium in Week 3, the team can create a beachhead of proficiency to build upon in the weeks ahead.

All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp is out for this one. But the Rams may have another rookie star receiver in the running with rookie WR Jordan Whittington. He has solid route-running skills, loves to block, and puts up plenty of yards after the catch. So far, he has caught both passes thrown his way.

But for him to make an impact in Week 3, he will need to be targeted far more often.

Inactives list for 49ers in Week 3

• QB Josh Dobbs
• WR Deebo Samuel
• DB Darrell Luter
• G Ben Bartch
• LB Tatum Bethune
• TE George Kittle

Unactives list for Rams in Week 3

• TE Davis Allen
• OL Geron Christian Sr
• WR Cooper Kupp
• RB Cody Schrader
• OLB Brennan Jackson
• QB Stetson Bennett

Inactives have been updated with the official inactives list.

Key Absences and Their Impact

Offensive Impact

• The absence of second-year TE Davis Allen may limit the team's willingness to play two tight-end formations
• The Rams must run the football more frequently. That means rookie RB Blake Corum should be a significant contributor in Week 3
• The Rams cannot balk at incorporating TE Colby Parkinson into this offense any longer. The team needs Parkinson to put up solid numbers.
• This is likely the first start for IOL Logan Bruss.
• No Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp will make the passing game much less efficient in Week 3.

Defensive Impact

• The Rams must generate much better pressure on the quarterback in Week 3
• ILBs have been disappointing so far. They play passively, waiting for the ball carrier to run to them. If the Rams do not play either rookie ILB Omar Speights or Elias Neal in Week 3, they must start the countdown to do so.
• The Rams run defense is atrocious. You can expect the 49ers to feed the football to every running back suited up for this one.

Special Teams Impact

• Starting kicker Joshua Karty will suit up for this one, despite fighting off a groin injury. The Rams did not elevate K Tanner Brown off the practice squad for Week 3, indicating that Karty would be active for Week 3.

I hate to put so many eggs in the basket of winning Week 3, but a loss this week is certainly very damaging to any hopes of competing in the NFL Playoffs. But a win in Week 3 breathes life into the Rams. Not only does it improve the team to 1-2, but it adds a bit of leverage if and when tiebreakers come into play for the seeding of the playoffs.

It's now or never. Or more accurately, it's much easier with a win.

As always, thanks for reading.